PluggedValve wrote:
Is it not the teachings of Islam (could include Judaism, christianity etc...) that causes people to think its okay to attack "infidel's"?
Islam states that Muslims are to
defend themselves against the attacks of infidels. The problem is misinterpretation of the Quran, which causes radicals to strike at who they believe are infidels. Which is expressly forbidden in Islam.
Why do you blame the individual people who act out in the name of Islam? Is it not the teachings that gave them the idea to "defend Islam" by killing Infidels (which is easily misconstrued)?
Suppose I was in a room with 18 other Muslims and a psychotic Christian with a gun. He's shooting us down one by one. In that situation, the Quran states that I must kill that gunman. If the Christian is screaming in our faces how we're idiots for listening to Muhammad, then I am required to scream back. You defend with the same ammo that is thrown at you. The suicide bombers are shooting bazookas when they're being poked with a stick. Ergo, they are not following Islam's teachings.
I dont believe there are many people actually trying to destroy Islam. Yet there are alot of Muslim's who believe they are defending Islam by killing Infidel's. In fact this is doing more damage to Islam than any Infidel has ever done.
Exactly. These idiots don't realize they're doing more damage than the people they claim are hunting down Islam. Almost everyone killed or injured in a suicide bombing have nothing whatsoever to do with the Iraq or Afghanistan invasion, but the radicals don't care. They delude themselves into thinking they are defending Islam, while they are in fact, the attackers.
How can Islam(the religeon) accept these acts being done on behalf of Islam?? I understand there are crazy people in every walk of life, but why does it seem that people that follow Islam have a tendancy to do violent acts compared to other religeons??? Islam is the only religeon that asks its followers to kill anyone, infidel or not. So how can it claim to be a peaceful religeon??
Islam is originally intended to be a religion of peace. But radicals and numbnuts like Osama bin Laden warp and twist the teachings of the Quran and publish it as the true way of Islam. And unfortunately, Osama and his cronies happen to be experts at spreading propaganda, which means you see a lot of otherwise normal Muslims strapping explosives to themselves.
If the teachings of Islam oppose acts of terrorism, why are there so many islamic terrorists compared to any other kind??
Like I said earlier, because the radical leaders are experts in propaganda. Furthermore, Islam appears to currently be going through the phase that Christianity underwent during the Crusades, where the religion was imposed on others through force, which, as we have seen before, is a huge mistake.
Do you honestly believe there is any group actively trying to wipe Islam out?? And how exactly are they doing this, if there are any??
At the moment, as far as I know, there aren't any groups actively conspiring to rid the world of Islam. However, in the eyes of the Middle Eastern Arab Muslims, Israel, and by extension the USA, are driving the Palestinian Muslims into a tight corner. So in the minds of the people who very easily jump to conclusions without considering other factors, Israel is expanding territory = Palestine losing territory = Palestinians under attack = Muslim brothers under attack = Israel are infidels = USA are infidels = attack USA. As you can see, this equation is FUBAR.
If I politely drew your attention to an inconsistency in Islamic teachings (hypothetically) which caused you to question your religeon would that make me an "Infidel" or a friendly neighbor with a different opinion??
Of course not. Debate and discussion is encouraged in Islam, as it often leads to new discoveries and further knowledge of oneself. Talk with a non-radical Muslim about what's going on with his religion today and he will be sure to respond without any hostility.
PS Sonata + others that have contributed. I really do appreciate you opening this topic, i find it very insightful. And i hope i dont offend you with the way i word things, as i am only curious.
Well, it was lowing that opened the topic, but anyway, it's our pleasure. It's really quite satisfying, actually, to talk about this in a rational and peaceful setting. No offense taken.